THE LAST DECADE. 
389 
value by their connected sequence extending over several years. The 
photographic illustration of important geological sections occurring 
in the county have been regularly issued with the proceedings since 
tlie year 1871. The photographs have been higlily appreciated, not 
only by the members of the Society, but by others, and notably by 
some of the most important educational institutions in the country. 
It is satisfactory to find this method of illustration gaining in favour 
with other Societies having kindred objects to our own ; and the 
hope may be expressed, that the recollection of many remarkable 
and instructive geological phenomena may be preserved by this means, 
which would otherwise be speedily lost. 
In the secretary's report, presented at the annual meeting in 
October, 1878, when Lord Houghton occupied the chair, an addition 
of 4<S members, or 30 per cent, of the entire number constituting the 
Society, was reported, and was regarded as a justification of the 
extension of the Society to the whole of the county at the previous 
annual meeting. During 1878, meetings were held at Selby, Scarbro', 
and Wakefield, and ten papers were contributed, four of which were 
by members outside the AVest Riding. At the Scarbro' meeting Mr. 
J. ^y. Woodall presided, and after the meeting placed his yacht at 
the disposal of the members, and several of them availed themselves 
of the opportunity, and proceeded with him on a short dredging 
expedition. The financial statement was satisfactory, and showed a 
considerable balance to the credit of the Society. Five additional 
local secretaries were appointed, at Sowerby Bridge, Thirsk, Bridling- 
ton, Huddersfield, and Wakefield. 
During the year 1879 the number of members was increased to 
207, and the balance to the credit of the Society at the end of the 
year was over twenty-eight pounds. Three meetings were held, in 
each instance combined with some practical work in the mine or field. 
In April the members met at Barnsley at noon, and drove to the 
Barrow ColHery, the property of the Hematite Steel Co., Limited. 
Under the guidance of Messrs. Kells, the engineers to the Company, a 
descent was made into the mine, which is especially interesting from 
its being the first in which the Silkstone Coal has been won below 
the Barnsley Bed. The depth of the coal is four hundred and sixty- 
